Latch.



R. E. GREEN.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

Patented .12.11.21, 1913.

Inventor Attorneys k Ll Amm lLANoaRAPn cmJMwlNd'wN. D.c.

RANDALL E. GREEN, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIG-NOR 0F ONEJIALF T0 HARRY CUMMINGS, OF FAIBFIELI), l'OWA.

LATCH.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RANDALL E. GREENa State of Iowa, have invented a new and use- 'ful Latch, of which the following is a jacent the outer end of the body B. This specification. v

This invention relates to latches, and aims to provide a latch for gates, doors and thelike, which is designed to automatically en-4 gage the proper keeper when the gate, door aperture l1 provided in the back adjacent or the like is closed.

The present invention alsoV contemplates the provision of a device of the character indicated which shall be simple, durable, com-l pact and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, serviceable and eliicient 1n use.

AWith the foregoing and other objects in.

view the present invention resides essentially in a latch, embodying. a body, a latch bolt slidably engaged thereby, a. trigger pivoted` to the body for engagement with the latchj bolt to normally detain same in retracted position, and a spring connecting the trigger and latch bolt tending to bring the trigger;

into engagement with the latch bolt and tending to project the latch bolt, the latch bolt being provided with a handle for convenience in manipulating same or retracting same, when the gate, door or the like 1s to be opened.

The present invention also resides in the details of construction, arrangement and combination hereinafter more fully set forth, it being understood, however, that this device is susceptible of alterations or deviations in its details within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters have been employed to denote correspondingv parts, and wherein-.-

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the latch applied to a farm gate.` Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the latch. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the line 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3, respectively. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch bolt.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the latch embodies in its essentials, the body B, the latch bolt L, and the trigger T, the details of which will be presently set forth.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, 1912.

Patented Jan. 21,1913.

Serial No. 713,667.

The body B comprises an elongated or rectangular back 7 having the flanges 8 projecting from its edges and extending from the outer end thereof, to an intermediate point. These flanges 8 are provided with inner lugs 9 adjacent their edges and adbody B is secured to the gate, door or the like, by means of a pair of ears 10 projecting ,A

from the edges of the back 7 adjacent the outer end of the body and by means of the its inner end.

The latch bolt L is channel-shaped or in tain the latch bolt in position. The intermediate portions of the flanges 13 of the latch bolt are cut away as designated by the numeral 14 and a boss 15 projects from the back 12 at t-he inner ends of the cut away portions 14.

The inner end of the latch bolt protrudes beyond the inner ends of the flanges 8 of the body, and a handle 16 is secured to the inner end of the latch bolt so as to upstand therefrom, the handle 16 having a shank 17 pass- .Y

ing through the flanges 13 adjacent their inner ends. The ianges 13 are also provided with stops 18 projecting from their outer faces, whichy stops are adapted to strike the inner ends of the flanges 8 when the outer end of the latch bolt is projected beyond the body B.

The triggerT embodies a long outwardly projecting arm 19 disposed between the respective ,flanges of the body and latch bolt and also embodies an inwardly projecting arm 20 arranged between said flanges, the said trigger being pivoted between the flanges 8 of the body and having the opposite bosses 21 at its fulcrum passing through the cut away portions 14 of the flanges 13, a bolt 22 passing through the flanges 8 and through the fulcrum of the trigger. Vlhenthe latch bolt is in retracted position, the

arm 20 of the trigger is, adapted to engage ,l

the shoulder formed by the outer end of the the outer edge of the said arm to which the corresponding end of the said spring is engaged. This contractile spring 23 tends to swing the arm toward the latch bolt or into engagement with the boss 15 and also tends to slide the latch bolt outwardly so yto project beyond the body B. The said vspring therefore serves a dual function,

namely, to project the latch bolt, and to engage the trigger with the latch bolt so as to prevent the same from being projected.

The body' B, latch bolt L, and the trigger T, may be cast from suitable metal, or may be otherwise constructed, the other parts also being fashioned from suitable material. The various parts are also readily assembled and may be easily taken apart for purposes of' repair, cleaning er replacement.

For-purpose of illustration, a gate G has been illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to which the body B has been secured adjacent the free or swinging end of the gate, the post toward which or against which the free end of the gate swings being designated by the letter P and the said post being provided lwith a keeper or staple K for the engagement of the latch bolt. The body is so secured to the gate, that the outer ends of the flanges 8 thereof will swing against the post or against a stop or projection, it therefore appearing, that when the latch bolt is retracted. and engaged bythe trigger, the arm 19 of the trigger will project from between the flanges 8, so that when the gate is closed, the arm 19 will be pushed inwardly by its engagement with the post or stop, in which event, the latch bolt will be released and will spring into engagement with the keeper K. The gate is in this manner automatically latched when closed, and may be readily opened by moving the handle 16 inward, so as to to retract the latch bolt, in

Vwhich event, the latch bolt will be again engaged by the trigger.

The latchA is adapted for use in divers purposes, which will be apparent from thev foregoing, and it will be apparent that the objects aimed at are attained in a satisfactory manner, the present latch providing a desirable'one for the purposes for which it vis designed.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is:

1. A latch embodying a body including a back havingk a pair of. flanges, a channelshaped latch havingV its back bearing against the back ofthe body and having its flanges fitting within the flanges of the body, the flanges of' the latch having portions thereof cut away, a trigger pivoted between the flanges of the body and having opposite bosse-s at its fulcrum passing through the cut away portions of the latter flanges, the trigger having an arm engageable with the back of the latch bolt and having an oppositely projecting arm adapted to swing outwardly from between the flanges, and means for projecting the latch bolt.

2. A latch embodying a body, a latch bolt slidably engaged thereby, a trigger carried by the body to engage the latchv bolt and normally detain the same in retracted position, and a spring connecting the trigger and latch bolt so as to tend to engage the trigger with the latch bolt and to tend to project the latch bolt.

3. A latch embodying a body, a latch bolt slidably engaged thereby, a trigger pivoted to the body having an arm engageable with the latch bolt to normally detain the latch bolt in retracted position and having another arm to engage an object so as to release the latch bolt, and a contractile spring connect-ing the former arm of the trigger and `the latch bolt.

4.- A latch embodying a body including a back Vhaving a pair of flanges, a latch bolt slidable between the flanges, a trigger pivoted between the flanges and engageable with l. the latch bolt to normally detain them in retracted position, and a spring connecting the trigger and latch bolt so as to tend to engage the trigger with the latch bolt and to tend to project the latch bolt.

5. A latch embodying a body including a back having a pair of flanges, a channelshaped bolt slidable between theV flanges of the body, a vtrigger pivoted betweent the 'flanges of the body, the trigger having an arm engageable with the latch bolt and having an o-ppositely projecting arm adapted to swing outwardly from between the flanges, and ay contractile spring connecting the former armof the latch and the inner end of the latch bolt.y

6. A latch embodying a body including 'a .back having a .pair of flanges provided with IOO inner lugs adjacent theirzedges, a channelshaped latch boltrv having vits back bearing against the back of the body and having its flanges fitting within the flanges of the body with the edges ofthe flanges engaging said lugs, a portion of the flanges of the latchbolt being cut away and a boss 1125 projecting from the back of the latch bolt, a trigger pivoted between the flanges ofthe body and having opposite bosses at its fulcrum passing through the cut away portions of the latterlianges, the trigger .having an arm engageahie with the said boss and In testimony that I claim the foregoing having an oppositely projecting arm adaptas my own, I have hereto aiiixed my slgnal0 ed to swing outwardly from between the ture in the presence of two witnesses.

fiancee, a handle havin@ a shank assino' T 1 thrfiigh the flanges ofbthe latch oit att RABDALL E' GRLLN their inner ends, and a contractile spring VVtneSses:

connecting the former arm of the trigger C. E. CUMMINGS,

and the said shank. Si. T. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

